Insulated building structure



y 1954 w. KRAUSE INSULATED BUILDING STRUCTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 21, 1945 FIG-.1.

INVENTOR. MLTER fimqusf Af/a/WeI/s July 20, 1954 w KRAUSE 2,683,980

INSULATED BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 21, l945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

M44475? KRA USE y 0, 1954 w. KRAUSE INSULATED BUILDING STRUCTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 21, 1945 I N V EN TOR. 1444M TEA hfi/IUSE Affar'ne /a" Patented July 20, 1954 INSULATED BUILDING STRUCTURE Walter Krause, Granville, Ohio, assignor to Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corporation, a corporation .of Delaware Application December 21, 1945, Serial No. 636,536

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to insulating walls for storage buildings -or compartments and also refers to an improved construction of building block or slab employed in the fabrication of such walls.

In fabricating insulating walls for buildings or storage compartments difficulty has been experienced in securing the insulating material to the supporting framing without having structural elements extend through the wall and provide a path for the conduction of heat or vapor. Such a path, even though highly restricted, is objectionable, because it enables relatively free transmission of heat through the wall and results in a loss in efficiency. It is especially troublesome in low-temperature insulated structures such as freezing lockers where resulting moisture condensation and the formation of ice in the insulation not only impairs the efficiency but even shortens the life of the insulation and the in sulated structure.

One of the objects of this invention is to overcome the above objections by providing an insulated compartment, room, or house having no framing or supporting members extending through the insulation. The present invention comprises a relatively simple load bearing frame having structural members assembled in the wall in a manner to transfer loads on the wall to the foundation independently of the insulating maaddition, cooperate with the grooves in the blocks to key them together.

A further object of this invention is to provide insulating blocks of the above general type capable of being laid in juxtaposition to form an insulating floor with the grooves in alignment for receiving furring strips to which flooring may be attached.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an insulating structural block that may be assembled with like blocks without cutting or fitting to build up a wall of insulation.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an insulating block that may be formed merely by laminating a plurality of standard size sheets or boards of insulation.

The foregoing as well as other objects will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of The blocks have registering grooves or 2 an insulated building structure embodying the features of this invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view showing the frame structure employed in the wall of the invention and taken on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross section through a part of the wall and floor of the invention taken on the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of one type of building block;

Figure 5 is a sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3; and

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 6-8 of Figure 3.

The present invention may be advantageously used in fabricating walls, partitions, compartments or buildings where it is highly desirable to reduce heat transfer through the walls to a minimum. Examples of such applications are cold storage rooms, freezing lockers, and like compartments, buildings or other enclosures within which it is essential to maintain low temperatures.

With the above in view, reference is made to Figure 1 of the drawings, wherein the reference character it designates a wall comprising prefabricated blocks or structural units it formed of an insulating material and capable of being laid in courses in accordance with accepted masonry practice. Although the invention is not limited to any specific type of insulating material, nevertheless it is preferred to use a fibrous mineral material such, for example, as slag, rock or glass wool. Particularly satisfactory results are obtained by using a glass fibrous material of the type wherein the fibers are bonded together by a thermosetting resin, as disclosed, for instance, in Bergin and Simison Patent No. 2,252,157. An insulating material formed of interbonded glass fibers not only lends itself to economical manufacture, but in addition has superior insulating qualities and weathering characteristics.

In any case the density of the insulating material is sufficient to impart the requisite strength to the blocks, and for ordinary applications, densities of fibrous glass of about four pounds per cubic inch to nine or more pounds per cubic inch are suitable. The thickness of the blocks may vary from three inches or less to twelve inches or more, depending upon the use to which the blocks are to be put. The length and width of the blocks may vary substantially and are more or less determined by the size that may be conveniently handled. A block about six. by twelve by thirty-six inches has been found one very convenient size although others may be used as found most suitable in certain applications.

The blocks may be cut from a single piece of interbonded fibrous material of the specified thickness or they may be formed in the manner shown in Figure 4 of the drawing by laminating together a plurality of relatively thin boards I2 of the insulating material. In the latter case, the boards or laminations l2 are integrally joined in juxtaposition in conventional way by a suitable moisture-resistant adhesive such, for example, as asphalt.

Each of the blocks H is formed on its four edge faces with grooves l3 extending continuously around the perimeter of the blocks. In instances where the blocks are formed of one piece construction, the grooves l3 are formed by cutting or routing the edge faces of the blocks and in cases where the blocks are formed from a plurality of laminated boards of insulating material, one of the intermediate boards or laininations M may be made sufficiently smaller than the adjacent laminations [2 to form the grooves [3.

In constructing the wall [0, the blocks H are laid in courses with the grooves l3 in adjacent blocks in registration and the blocks are united by applying an adhesive on the inter-engaging edge faces thereof. Hot asphalt, asphalt base compounds or materials having similar characteristics may be satisfactorily used for the above purpose by brushing, mopping or troweling a thick film, say to inch thick, onto one or both of the inter-engaging faces.

As the courses are built-up, structural members of wood, metal or other material are inserted in the registering grooves of the blocks and not only accurately position the blocks relative to each other, but also assist the adhesive in holding the blocks in place. In detail, as the first row of blocks is laid on the foundation IS in a bed of asphalt or the like if desired, vertical stud members I! are inserted in the registering vertical grooves in opposite edges of the blocks, and a horizontal lintel member I8 is inserted in the aligned grooves in the top faces of the blocks.

The second row or course is laid on the first row in accordance with conventional masonry practice with the vertical edge faces ofifset from the corresponding vertical faces of the first row. The thickness of the lintel members [8 approxi mates the combined depth of the registering grooves in the blocks, so that as the second row of blocks is laid on the first row, the grooves in the bottom edge faces of the blocks receive the upper portions of the lintel members i8. As in the first course, studs ll are inserted in the registering grooves formed in adjacent vertical edges of the blocks in the second row and not only cooperate with the lintels E8 to position the blocks in the second row in a common plane with the blocks in the first row, but in addition, assist in securing the blocks together. The above procedure is followed in laying succeeding rows of block, so that upon completion of the wall the structural members cooperate to form a load bearing frame having the studs ll vertically supporting the lintels E8 in spaced apart relation, the whole frame resting on the foundation iii. If desired, key strips l9 may be secured to the foundation It by lag-screws to aid in positioning the first course of insulating blocks on the foundation. When the key strips are provided the first course of studs ll rests upon these key strips, as shown in Figure 2.

The ends of the lintels in adjoining side walls may be connected together as shown in Figure 6. Here the lintel E8 in one side wall is extended into proximity to the lintel E8 in the adjoining wall, as by cutting a groove 2| in the insulating block at the end of the wall, and the ends of 4 the lintels are tied together by a metal strap 22 nailed or screwed to the two lintels.

The frame of studs and lintels is concealed in the wall and not only supports and ties together the biocks but is also adapted to support roof or ceiling loads independently of the blocks. The construction of the present invention is such that no part of the load bearing frame projects through the wall and, as a result, no direct path exists through the wall for the conduction of heat or vapor.

As illustrative of the manner in which the roof may be supported by the walls, there is shown in Figure 3 a roof structure 25 of conventional form and that includes rafters 2E resting on bearing plates 21, the bearing plates being supported on lintels 28 received in the grooves in the upper edge of the blocks ll of the top course. A ceiling 38 may be suitably suspended from the rafters 25 backed up with insulation material 3!.

Either or both surfaces of the walls may be covered with plaster, cement or some other type of wall finish. Finishing material of the above type is usually applied to wire lath or mesh 34 and the latter is attachable to the wall surfaces by metal clips 36 and 31. As shown in Figure 3 of the drawing, the clips are LJ-shaped at the inner ends to provide channel-shaped portions 38 of a size to enable inserting the same in the grooves at one edge of the blocks with the channels opening upwardly to receive the lintels I8. The ends of the clips 3% project outwardly between the surfaces of adjacent blocks and the free ends extend through the wire mesh 3 3 on the outer surface of the wall where they may be bent over to secure the 1 esh or lath in place.

The clips are, of course, placed the respective grooves in the blocks as the latter are laid in courses and before the lintels are inserted in the grooves, so that the clips are firmly held in place by the lintels. The clips 3? are identical to the clips Eli and are assembled with the wall in the same manner. The clips 55! project in wardly beyond the inner surface of the wall for attaching wire mesh at or wire lath to the latter surface of the wall. In practice, care is preferably taken to avoid assembling the clips fit and 37 in the same groove in proximity to each other to thereby avoid a circuitous heat-conducting path through the wall. Between the wire mesh and the outer surface of the wall of insulating material there is provided a suitable vapor barrier 43 of asphalted paper mopped with a suitable bitumen and held to the wall by the wire mesh aided, if desired, by a coating of asphalt or the like mopped or brushed onto the outer surface of the wall before the asphalted paper is applied.

In Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings, insulating blocks are shown as being laid side by side on the foundation it to form an insulating floor l. The blocks are laid with the grooves in the top edges in alignment and furrin strips 52 are inserted in the grooves. Suitable flooring it, such for ex ample, as hard wood strips may be readily secured to the furring strips, and the weight of the flooring is transmitted to the foundation ii; through stud members inserted. in the registering grooves formed in adjacent vertical edges of the blocks. Key strips 455 similar to the furring strips 42 maybe secured by lag-screws or the like to the foundation to aid in aligning the insulating blocks, although these key strips are usually not necessary.

Various modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A building structure comprising a plurality of preformed insulating blocks having grooves extending continuously around the perimeter of the blocks intermediate opposite side surfaces of the blocks and laid in courses to form a wall with the grooves in adjacent blocks in registration, the registering grooves in the horizontal edges of adjacent superposed blocks cooperating to form vertically spaced channels which extend continuously throughout the length of the wall and the registering grooves in the vertical edges of said blocks cooperating to form vertical channels staggered with respect to each other, and a load bearing frame structure having rigid tension members disposed in the horizontal channels and having rigid compression members disposed in the vertical channels, said members making abutting contact at their points of intersection and supporting said blocks.

2. A building structure comprising a plurality of preformed relatively thick blocks of mineral wool insulating material having grooves extending continuously around the perimeter of the blocks intermediate opposite side surfaces of the blocks and laid in courses to form a wall with the grooves in adjacent blocks in registration, the registering grooves in the horizontal edges of adjacent superposed blocks cooperating to form vertically spaced channels which extend throughout the length of the wall and the registering grooves in the vertical edges of alternate rows of blocks cooperating to form aligned vertical channels offset with respect to the corresponding vertical channels in the adjacent rows of blocks, and an independent load bearing frame structure having rigid tension members disposed in the horizontal channels and having load supporting compression members disposed in the vertical channels, said members making abutting contact at their points of intersection and supporting substantially all the weight of said blocks.

3. A building structure comprising a plurality of preformed blocks of fibrous insulating material laid in courses to form a wall and having registering grooves intermediate opposite side surfaces, a load bearing frame structure associated with said blocks and supporting the weight thereof including rigid frame members respectively disposed in the registering grooves of adjacent blocks and abuttingly associated to form a continuous frame structure, and attaching means for wall surfaces including clips having channel portions seated in certain of said grooves and held in place by the frame member in the latter grooves.

4. A building structure comprising a plurality of preformed insulating blocks having grooves extending continuously around the perimeter of the blocks intermediate opposite side surfaces of the blocks and laid in courses to form a wall with the grooves in adjacent blocks in registration, a load bearing frame structure on which said blocks are supported, said structure including frame members disposed in the registering grooves of adjacent blocks and abuttingly contacting each other at their points of intersection, attaching clips anchored in certain of the grooves by the frame members in the latter and projecting be- 5. A building structure for forming hot or cold storage rooms comprising preformed blocks of fibrous insulating material laid end to end and having registering grooves in the top and end surfaces, furring strips disposed in the grooves in the top surfaces of the blocks, and vertical load supporting struts disposed in the registering grooves at the ends of the blocks cooperating with the furring strips to provide a frame for absorbing the load on the structure.

6. A building structure comprising a plurality of preformedinsulating blocks of fibrous matter having grooves extending continuously around the perimeter of the blocks intermediate opposite side surfaces of the blocks and laid in courses to form a wall with the grooves in the horizontal edges of adjacent superposed blocks cooperating to form vertically-spaced horizontal channels which extend continuously throughout the length of the wall and registering grooves in the vertical edges of said blocks cooperating to form horizontally-spaced vertical channels, the vertical channels in adjacent levels of said blocks being staggered with respect to each other, and a loadbearing frame structure having rigid horizontal members disposed in the horizontal channels and rigid compression members disposed in the vertical channels, whereby said blocks are aligned both horizontally and vertically, said horizontal members being connected at their points of intersection to hold said blocks and members against lateral displacement within said building structure, said compression members abuttingly contacting the horizontal members between which they are disposed to effect a bearing of the load of the upper level of horizontal members which such horizontal members contact, whereby said frame structure supports all the weight of each of said blocks separately.

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